Sarah W |

02/02/2010
Nalini Singh proves what an amazing writer she is again in Archangel's Kiss, the next book in her Guild Hunter series.
It has been a year after the climactic events of Angels' Blood. Elena Deveraux has woken up from her year-long coma. She is no longer a mere mortal with hunter skills; instead, she is now an immortal angel, a very weak, immortal angel unfortunately. But with her lover, and powerful archangel, Raphael wise, and emotionally with the characters. I liked this book even more than the first in the series because I felt like the author was given a chance to dig into her characters, rather than just setting up the romance and basic world building of the novels. Elena is perhaps at her weakest she has been in a long time so she has to rely on Raphael.
Equally, Raphael for all he purports to love Elena realizes he has to start opening up to her. Trust and equality is not a one-way street and Raphael needs to start letting her in. This is hard for him, hard for her, but they make it work. They want to make it work and that makes all the difference. Powerful, immortal beings or not, love is a gift neither expected and they don't want to lose it.
Nalini Singh played up many of the secondary characters again, making them more interesting than ever. I know I'm intrigued by Raphael's Seven more than I expected.
There are also touches of whimsy and delight in this book. The power of flying, the laughter of children, and the growing intimacy between Raphael and Elena all add up to combat and help negate the growing darkness.
I swear, everything Nalini Singh writes turns golden. I was completely absorbed in this world, these characters, and their struggles. I'm excited to read more about this world, about Elena and Raphael, and I have a feeling I'm not alone. Too bad it looks like the next book in the series won't be out until 2011.